The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
There's a prophet on a mountain and he's making up dinner
With long division and writing crop
Anybody can feel like a winner
When it's served up piping hot
But the people aren't looking for a handout
They're America's working corps
Can this be what they voted for?
Let them eat war
Let them eat war
That's how to ration the poor
Let them eat war
Let them eat war
There's an urgent need to feed
Declining crime
From the force to the union shops
The war economy is making new jobs
But the people who benefit most
Are breaking bread with their benevolent hosts
You never stole from the rich to give to the poor
All they ever gave to them was a war
And a foreign enemy to deplore
Let them eat war
Let them eat war
That's how to ration the poor
Let them eat war
Let them eat war
There's an urgent need to feed
Declining crime
We've got to kill 'em in the end Before they reach for their checks
Squeeze some blue collars Let them bleed from their necks
Seize a few dollars from the people who sweat
'Cause it's freedom or death and they won't question it
At a job site the boss is god like
Conditioned workhorses park at a stoplight
Seasoned vets with their feet in nets
A stones throw away from a rock fight
But not tonight, feed 'em death
Here comes another ration (feed them death)
'Cause they're the finest in the nation (feed them death)
But there's nothing left to feed them
When it's freedom or it's death
Let them eat war
Let them eat war
That's how to ration the poor
Let them eat war
Let them eat war
There's an urgent need to feed
With long division and writing crop
Anybody can feel like a winner
When it's served up piping hot
But the people aren't looking for a handout
They're America's working corps
Can this be what they voted for?
Let them eat war
Let them eat war
That's how to ration the poor
Let them eat war
Let them eat war
There's an urgent need to feed
Declining crime
From the force to the union shops
The war economy is making new jobs
But the people who benefit most
Are breaking bread with their benevolent hosts
You never stole from the rich to give to the poor
All they ever gave to them was a war
And a foreign enemy to deplore
Let them eat war
Let them eat war
That's how to ration the poor
Let them eat war
Let them eat war
There's an urgent need to feed
Declining crime
We've got to kill 'em in the end Before they reach for their checks
Squeeze some blue collars Let them bleed from their necks
Seize a few dollars from the people who sweat
'Cause it's freedom or death and they won't question it
At a job site the boss is god like
Conditioned workhorses park at a stoplight
Seasoned vets with their feet in nets
A stones throw away from a rock fight
But not tonight, feed 'em death
Here comes another ration (feed them death)
'Cause they're the finest in the nation (feed them death)
But there's nothing left to feed them
When it's freedom or it's death
Let them eat war
Let them eat war
That's how to ration the poor
Let them eat war
Let them eat war
There's an urgent need to feed
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Another correction: it's "riding crop" not "writing crop."
Greg Graffin et al take a nod from George Orwell's 1984 with this "War is Peace" song.
Clearly about the government and those in charge of a nation creating a 'war' for the poor and a 'foreign enemy for them to deplore', thus making them ignore all that is wrong with their country and make sacrifices which are not needed.
Great record.
Sage Francis teaming up with the amazing Bad Religion is an incredible combination. Sure, Sage only gets about 8 lines or so, but it's still a great team up!
Isn't that what George W Bush did? Starting a war to distract attention from economical problems?
well that is a claim that some make, that wars such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Vietnam (see Dead Kennedy's Kinky sex makes the world go round and youll see what the thoughts are) basically to rid the country of the poor so they dont have to pay them for doing nothing essentially.
God I love BR. This song's lyrics are a perfect example of why they're so great.
Way to almost grasp the obvious, cerph.
Haha. Yeah. Extra point: you probably know this, but Marie Antoinette's solution to poverty was 'if they have no bread, give them cake to eat'. Song title implies that GWB says 'let them it war'. Obviousness.
Simple meaning: Using war and fear to control a population. Refers to Bush's use of "the war on terrorism" to control Americans' actions and thoughts, swinging public opinion his way and making it easier for everybody to swallow that the country is going to shit.
"we've got to kill 'em and eat 'em before they reach for their checks squeeze some blue collars let them bleed from their necks seize a few dollars from the people who sweat cause it's freedom or death and they won't question it "
This all refers to the government being able to oppress people in the interest of "national security", just by presenting a threat and saying that it is necessary.
this song really ought to be self-explanatory.
corrections: last line: there's an urgent need to bleed. sage francis, sixth line: 'cause it's freedom or debt.
Further correction: There's an urgent need to feed declining crime = There's an urgent need to feed declining pride